All Forum Posts by: Ron H.
Ron H. has started 2 posts and replied 157 times.
Post: How to handle utilities in a single family rental
- Investor
- Melbourne, FL
- Posts 159
- Votes 116
Tenant pays me a fixed amount into an escrow account (paper acct only) for water/sewer. Escrow amount set slightly higher than expected owed amount. Once a year I adjust escrow payment to match usage. At moveout I reimburse for any overpayment. This way I am sure water gets paid and is fair to the tenant also.
Post: HOA Restricting Rentals
- Investor
- Melbourne, FL
- Posts 159
- Votes 116
Is this a condo or an HOA? The laws regarding what a condo association and what a HOA can do is very different.
Post: Sewer Pipe Replacement Increase Home Value?
- Investor
- Melbourne, FL
- Posts 159
- Votes 116
Yes houses that have working toilets are worth more that houses with toilets that don't work. Maintenance item. In some areas with corroding lines the house might be considered slightly more desirable than those with older lines, but still more of a maintenance issue to be dealt with.
Post: Best printer for light use
- Investor
- Melbourne, FL
- Posts 159
- Votes 116
I use a Brother HL-L2395 scanner/copy/printer/wireless. Scans in color but prints B/W. On sale occasionally <$100. Off brand toner very cheap. Used to work for a place that would take the print engines out of these to make super rugged mil products. Will last forever. I used to keep a HP inkjet as backup for color but the HP never was reliable and realized that I seldom ever required color. Finally trashed the HP. Very happy with the Brother.
Post: Garage Opener Installation
- Investor
- Melbourne, FL
- Posts 159
- Votes 116
If there is nothing in writing about openers being furnished I would look for a new PM. He's trying to pad his pockets. He should not be trying to scare you into an improvement. For a non rush based install, good openers can be had for a lot cheaper than 2 for $700.
Post: How do you handle your college rental bills?
- Investor
- Melbourne, FL
- Posts 159
- Votes 116
When I did student rentals I included an electric allowance amount. This was to keep from them setting Ac on 65 during the summer. Usually going over even $2 and having them pay this overage had an affect on their behavior.
Post: how to handle prorated rents and endless parent!! requests
- Investor
- Melbourne, FL
- Posts 159
- Votes 116
Whether you prorate for first and last month depends on what your lease says. When I did student renting my lease stated 12 monthly payments for a 50 week term the first year. Allows for 2 weeks cleanup when students move at end of school year. Renewing residents get the 52 weeks. 1st payment at movein around aug 20th. Next payment due Sept 1st. Lease ends around august 6th. No august payment due for residents checking out. Most of the student apartments in my area follow a very similar lease period only with 3 weeks vacant between school years. I would also try to be flexible within reason for movein and moveout days for good trouble free renters
Post: HELOC question. Way more then requested.
- Investor
- Melbourne, FL
- Posts 159
- Votes 116
FL has a mortgage tax paid at closing
Post: HELOC question. Way more then requested.
- Investor
- Melbourne, FL
- Posts 159
- Votes 116
In FL you would be charged double in taxes for double the line of credit whether you drew from it or not. Not familiar with OR law though.
Post: Service dogs in Florida
- Investor
- Melbourne, FL
- Posts 159
- Votes 116
There are many service dogs whose service is not immediately noticable. A seizure dog is one example.
Originally posted by @Daryl Luc:
If you don't want animals in your property, then first provide the prospect with a showing. If they have a physical disability and the dog gives assistance, then the dog is most likely a legit service animal. If no physical impairment is obvious and being assisted, then the animal is a support animal. Yes, they too are protected, however we've entered an era of absolute abuse of the protection clause. To be protected class of person, the support animal must be there to give assistance to a diagnosed mental disorder of the person or a diagnosed emotional disorder. That is the definition of an emotional support animal, not a service animal. If the prospect has a letter from a licensed practitioner of psychology or psychiatry, you need to accept that their claim is legit. It's not the dog that is 'certified', it's the person. If that certification letter can't be produced, then their 'need' is a non sequitur.....ie: B/S
If you have other prospects, then by all means examine them for suitability regarding income and your other criteria and then select the best. After the selection is made, you only owe those who filled out an application the courtesy of a rejection. Keep it simple. No explanation other than another prospect was chosen. This is no different than a job interview. Very few get much more than 'we chose another candidate' that was a better fit upon examination. The more you allow yourself to disclose, the more you expose yourself to a possible action by the rejected prospect.